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To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes

Charlie Sykes 198 Episodes Aug 22, 2026

Charlie Sykes offers a contrarian perspective on politics and culture, arguing that listeners are not the crazy ones in a polarized world. The podcast features analysis and commentary on current events, challenging mainstream narratives. It is hosted on Acast.

Episodes

Tom Nichols: The Trump Tribe Thinks This Will Go On Forever
Tom Nichols: The Trump Tribe Thinks This Will Go On Forever Aug 22, 2026 47:13 The Atlantic's Tom Nichols joins Charlie to talk about the frightening delusions of the Trump team, his human binky Natalie Harp, and Congress shirking its most basic responsibilities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Don't Normalize This
Don't Normalize This Aug 20, 2026 53:54 Charlie goes solo today to discuss Trump cozying up to another despot, pumping the brakes on data centers and who the hell is Natalie Harp. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Blanche Proves He Is Trump's Toady. As If There Was Any Doubt.
Blanche Proves He Is Trump's Toady. As If There Was Any Doubt. Aug 18, 2026 46:17 Harry Litman, host of the Talking Feds podcast, joins Charlie to talk about Trump's continued warping of reality, Blanche showing the era of DOJ impartiality is over, and the possibility the Republicans in Congress will refuse to seat a newly elected Democratic member on January 3rd. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ed Luce: We Are at Peak Denial
Ed Luce: We Are at Peak Denial Aug 15, 2026 43:29 Ed Luce from the Financial Times joins Charlie to talk about today's political climate, the undeniable reality of global warming and the existential threat of AI.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
It's Electability Stupid
It's Electability Stupid Aug 13, 2026 42:04 The co-founder of Third Way, Matt Bennett joins Charlie to talk about the DSA's stunning defeat in Wisconsin, their agenda to destroy the Democratic Party and why electability still matters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Peter Wehner: Trump Prefers Infamy to Irrelevance
Peter Wehner: Trump Prefers Infamy to Irrelevance Aug 11, 2026 50:37 The Atlantic's Peter Wehner joins Charlie to talk about Trump's desperate attempts to remain relevant, his miscalculations about Iran, and MAGA's obsession with Anthony Fauci. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Anne Applebaum: “I Can’t Think of Anything More Corrupt”
Anne Applebaum: “I Can’t Think of Anything More Corrupt” Aug 8, 2026 45:33 The Atlantic's Anne Applebaum joins Charlie to discuss Trump's sale of early access to Truth Social posts, his doubling down on the reflecting pool vandalism lie, and the Ceuta border crisis and how the far right has weaponized it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Trump's Banana Republic
Trump's Banana Republic Aug 1, 2026 51:55 New York Times Opinion writer David French joins Charlie to discuss Trump's unprecedented corruption, the Todd Blanche Attorney General nomination now in limbo, and Anthony Fauci's Senate hearing.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Trump Attacks a Female Journalist. The Press Looks Away.
Trump Attacks a Female Journalist. The Press Looks Away. Jul 30, 2026 43:56 Tara Palmeri, host of The Tara Palmeri Show and author of the newsletter "The Red Letter," joins Charlie to unpack Trump's attack on Kaitlan Collins at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, Todd Blanche's role in the Epstein cover-up, and Lindsey Graham's fraught legacy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Does Trump Think AI Slop Makes Him Look Tough?
Does Trump Think AI Slop Makes Him Look Tough? Jul 28, 2026 50:36 Nicholas Grossman, editor of Arc Digital and professor of international relations at the University of Illinois, joins Charlie to discuss Trump's frenzied posting of AI slop about Iran, the bizarre White House Correspondents' Dinner, and the global implications of the newly announced Saudi nuclear deal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Trump Tried to Rewire Society. Trump Failed.
Trump Tried to Rewire Society. Trump Failed. Jul 25, 2026 51:20 Jonathan Rauch is a Brookings Institution Senior Fellow and a contributing writer at The Atlantic. In this episode, he joins Charlie to explain how the "postmodern right" thinks it can manipulate reality, how Trump's people thought they could change civil society — and why all of this is failing. They also discuss the continuing casualties from the war with Iran, Trump's obsession with numbers, an
An Administration Without Grown-Ups
An Administration Without Grown-Ups Jul 23, 2026 57:33 In this special solo episode, Charlie answers your questions about the latest crisis in US-Canada relations, Jay Clayton's confirmation hearing, and the US-Saudi nuclear deal.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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